November 2nd

 "On that day, says the Lord, 

    a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,
a wail from the Second Quarter,
   a loud crash from the hills." Zephaniah 1:10

on this day, 

may we turn off the ads

we have heard so many times

we could make the pitch,

so we can hear the cries

of those who have no one

approving their message of

longing for compassion and hope,

so we hear the weeping from

all the parents in rubble strewn

communities aka battlefields,

so we might listen to those

whose dreams for justice

have collided with the ever

increasing desires of the privileged

who, miraculously, always seem

not to be at fault and can walk away

with no responsibility at all, and then

tomorrow, when we can make a difference

we might hear those echoes 

deep in our hearts.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 1st/All Saints Day

“Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” Revelation 7:13

‘I ain’t no saint,’ he protested
as he began to unload
the boxes and bushels
of fresh vegetables
so the volunteers at the foodbank
could cart them into the warehouse—
‘I’m just a simple farmer
grows extra for those folks
who need it most.’

‘oh, one of the parents
called me that the other day,’
said the bus driver
as she pressed the button
to start the lift bringing
the little child in the wheelchair
up to the level of the seats,
‘but I just love caring
for all those the world tends
to turn its back on.’

‘don’t put that label on us,’
laughed the volunteers
passing our tents, blankets,
coats and hats and gloves
to the rough sleepers as
the chill of Fall seeped in,
‘we’re just folks who
have been graced so
we might grace others.’

It’s funny, God,
how many folks think
they ain’t saints.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 31st

“Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.” Revelation 13:11

as the Day of the Dread approaches
and we want to crawl as deep
into the pit of forgetfulness as we can,
may we take a moment to watch
all those little witches and wizards,
those hobgoblins and sports stars,
those ballerinas and ninja turtles,
those Barbies in pink and little men in black
wander from house to house
giggling and whispering
among themselves, just waiting
to get back home where they will
remove all the masks which cover
their wonder, joy, and hope, for
they are the ones who know
with the faith of the foolish that
there are no monsters under the bed
or walking dead hiding in the corners
except those we shape from the dust
of our fragmented fears.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 30th

“Mountains and all hills,
   fruit trees and all cedars!” Psalm 148:9

Autumn’s afternoon sun
through the orange, gold,
and red leaves forms
stained glass windows on
our lawns and porches,
the crunch of the drying
leaves as we hike through
the woods reminds us of
kids munching on popcorn,
the crisp morning air
billows the lace curtains
as if all creation was
taking a breath,
while we lie in bed
praising you for all
the marvelous gifts
of this changing season.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 29th

What shall I return to the LORD
   for all his bounty to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
   and call on the name of the LORD,” Psalm 116:12-13

how?
i shall return your grace
you so extravagantly give to me
by being as generous
in sharing it with others.
i shall return your serenity
with which you swaddle me
by giving peace more
than just a once-in-awhile chance.
i shall return your justice
which was passed on to me
by those who sought it long ago
by demanding it for others
whose lives and voices are ignored.
i shall return your ineffable hope
which is often too overwhelming
to try to put into words but
i will try to make it a part
of my everyday conversations.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 28th

"And I say, 'O that I had wings like a dove! 

   I would fly away and be at rest;
truly, I would flee far away;
   I would lodge in the wilderness;'" Psalm 55:6-7

like Frodo, we wish that
we did not have to live
in these perilous times,
yet here we are, by your grace.
so, may we seek to find
that piece of you in every person,
even those we are convinced
are empty of compassion.
may we never abandon our call
to be people of grace, of justice,
of peace, of including everyone.
may we try, as hard as it may be,
to never let the word hopeless
become a part of our vocabulary,
just as it has never been
a part of yours.


(c) Thom M. Shuman


Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 27th

“But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.” Jonah 4:1

we hired you to play this role,
expect you to follow the script
as if it was filled with inerrant words,
simply punishing those we despise,
blessing everyone we approve,
and seeing everything through our eyes.
so, what’s with the attitude, God?
you improvise way too much—
loving all the wrong folks,
forgiving those we never would,
and always eager to share mercy
when we clearly indicate judgment.
no wonder we sit in the shade
of self-righteous indignation,
sulking because you keep messing up
but then that inconvenient Spirit whispers
so what if God’s epic failure
is loving those we find impossible,
welcoming those we push aside,
offering grace greater than our grudges?
help us to toss our script out the window,
open our rock-stubborn hearts,
and learn to love who you love,
even when it makes us
want to chew nails.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman